Ann Montzka-Smelser

In between receiving her Bachelors of Music Education and Masters in Performance and Pedagogy at Northern Illinois University, Ann studied with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki at the Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan.

In 2003, Ann was the recipient of the Byron Hester Memorial Excellence in Teaching Award.

Ann has performed in many orchestras and chamber ensembles and is currently principal 2nd violinist with Camerata Chicago and concertmaster of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

Ann became a Registered Suzuki Teacher Trainer in 2005 and teaches Suzuki Pedagogy courses at Wheaton College, Northern Illinois University and Merit School of Music. Ann is the director of the NIU Community School of the Arts Suzuki Strings Program. Ann enjoys working with Suzuki families at Suzuki Institutes and workshops throughout the United States. Ann was invited to teach at the 2010 String Conference in Singapore and has taught Suzuki pedagogy courses in Lima, Peru, Mexico City, Mexico and San Jose, Costa Rica. Ann is a lifetime member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and currently the Violin Coordinator for the 2016 Suzuki Teachers Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Ann lives in DeKalb, Illinois with her husband, Linc, and their two children, Genevieve and Benjamin.